Did cops pull guns on boy?

Lucky and his owners Benjamin Roberts, 12, Unique Roberts, 14, and their mother, Desiree Johnson, sit on the back stairs of their Kenmore Street home. The family speaks out about their brush with the Youngstown Task Force.

Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams

Chief Jimmy Hughes.

Mom, city at odds over alleged incident during investigation.

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — The combination of a preteen boy, his dog and plain-clothes police officers with guns drawn has one mother upset and looking for answers and city officials asking questions.

For Desiree Johnson, of Youngstown, and her 12-year-old son, Benjamin “Benji” Roberts, July 10 was much like any other summer day. Johnson was enjoying the afternoon on the front porch, and her son was about 100 yards away playing basketball.

Johnson said she realized her son had not cleaned up his bedroom and had his sister go down the street and get him to return home so he could finish his chores.

It was then that the day became anything but ordinary.

Johnson said her son, accompanied by the family’s large mixed-breed dog, Lucky, ran home at her request. She said they were met in the rear of the home by several police officers with their guns drawn.

“They had guns on my 12-year-old son,” she said. “They searched him in his groin area. My son’s eyes looked like they were going to pop out of his head.

“This is unacceptable. What if he had made one wrong move?”

Benji, who Johnson says is now fearful of certain situations and is not sleeping well, said he remembers the incident clearly.

“I turned in the driveway and saw them, and stopped. The dog started going crazy, so I grabbed the dog, and they started searching me,” he said. “They said I could have broken into a house or had drugs on me.”

Hughes said officers were in the Kenmore Avenue area investigating alleged drug sales by a teenage boy that had taken place earlier in the day. Officers were on surveillance in the neighborhood and saw Benji running toward a house and wanted to make sure he had nothing to do with the investigation, Hughes said.

The problem, Hughes said, came when officers encountered the boy, and Lucky, a large, golden retriever/Labrador mix, became aggressive toward officers. Officers drew their weapons and pointed them at the dog because the animal was threatening, the chief said.

Hughes maintained Lucky was not leashed or collared at the time of the altercation, and officers were in fear for their safety.

“The officers’ side of this is that they did not point any guns at the child. They pointed guns at the dog. The dog was the target the whole time,” he said. “This would have been a lot better if the dog were leashed. This would have been a lot better if the dog [were] not aggressive.”

Mayor Jay Williams said he has spoken with Johnson and assured her the city will look into the incident. He said the situation is cause for concern but maintained there are two sides to the story.

“I will be looking into the situation, and we will be getting back to her,” said Williams. “These officers are well-trained and concerned about the safety of the citizens, but because of the concern [Johnson] expressed, we have an obligation to look into the situation.”

Johnson said whatever is determined to be the cause does not justify the fear her son now deals with on a daily basis.

“There is no excuse for what they did,” she said. “My son is a good kid, no trouble anywhere, ever. My son should not have to walk around scared. [Kids] should see the police and feel comfortable, not get scared.”

Comments

The child was running to finish his chores?? Why wasn't Lucky leashed?

Nonetheless, It seems very unlikely that the YPD was willfully targeting and harrasing this child. Rather, it seems more likely that they were doing their best to do a dangerous job at a ridiculously low wage.

First off there isn't there a leash law in Youngstown? Second if the mother wasn't on house arrest as shown in the above photo maybe she could have went and gotten her son herself and controlled the dog better.

LOL!!! I didn't even see the ankle bracelet in the picture. That's awesome!The officers were on an investigation in the area, saw the kid who matched the age description of the suspect, and drew their guns to protect themselves from the dog. This paper is making a mountain out of a mole hill, and anyone that believes the officers were pointing their guns at the kid need to get their head out of their ass.

No it would not. You got me. Anything to blame the police in this God forsaken city.

However, police don't pull weapons on dogs that are restrained. Trust me......I know it's hard to believe but the police DON'T want to shoot a 12 year old kid. They do want to go home without being bitten by dogs.

is this what Goodwin gets paid for? Is this even news? Nothing happened.

Drug neighborhood.

Agressive dog.

Precautions were taken and NON ONE got hurt.

“There is no excuse for what they did,” she said. “My son is a good kid, no trouble anywhere, ever. My son should not have to walk around scared. [Kids] should see the police and feel comfortable, not get scared.”

...move out of the neighborhood where your son mirrors the discription of the drug dealers and you will never see police officers in an adverse situation.

well i gues everyone feels here that the cops were right and the kid was wrong. its amazing that everyone says not to worry about it they were doing their job. but what if it was your kid? what if it was in the suburbs? all im saying is with all the trouble surrounding cops in this country over the years its amazing we always take their side. cops are humans not perfect and they can be corrupt to. if you dont believe me drive through sharon and farrell, pa and when you get pulled over for having a air freshener on your rear view mirror you will realize sometimes the police do harrass people.

This is just a no win situation . The mother is under pressure from past life events and may have a chip on her shoulder . The plice are operating in a bad area and are also under pressure . Now Jay is under pressure . Let's see how he does to smooth this over .

Nice dog . Looks mellow in the picture . I have no doubt that he would bite if you approached the steps . In that neighborhood she needs all the protection that she can get . The dog may not be enough and she may need tha police at some point .

Come on Vindy! Do your job for a change and publish mom's criminal record. Tell the whole story not this half truth stuff that you always spew out! Vindy for Thugs!!!!!! Vindy is anti-police and anti-community safety! Trash Trash Trash!!!!

Mama Johnson may not be squeaky clean on her rap sheet but she is making Mayor Jay Williams a bit uncomfortable . At least this skirmish is keeping Jay busy and taking the heat off the corner grocery stores . Is there one near her house ? That may have been the cause of it all .

If it were in the same situation, I'd initially be freaked out by the cops pointing their guns anywhere near my kid, but after 5 minutes of that, I'd come to my senses and blame myself for living in the 'hood (something that I blame myself for everyday). I'd also blame the drug dealers for making the cops be out there in the first place and my kid for not having the dog leashed. Thankfully, the cops were calm and professional and no one got hurt.

i am on the YPD side of this story. they do what many of us can't. we lock our doors and would not even go through alleys or behind homes as they do. think about it peopleYoungstown is Crazy!!! it is so dangerous and as the old story stands, we run from it, they run towards it , to help protect us,. big deal if they searched him , so damn what, better to check it out and be safe , not sorry. ya , mom with an ankle bracelet on, what a good roll model. the police are not stupid, and sure there are some that do some wrong things, there is more to this story ! As for Youngstown and all the crime i salute the cops. we truely need the National Guard there to help them clean frinkin' house!!!! bet if someone was kicking in her door who she gonna call.. YPD , THATS RIGHT!!!!

and one more thing, so what if he is young, there are so many 14-15 year olds who carry guns deal crack and are troubled kids who cause trouble and have even committed murder in youngstown, so age is nothing...one thing for sure at his moms age i could never of imagined my mom having a ankle bracelet on. its family morals and values, think they flew the coop. no more dinners together, or family time and for most walking the streets late at night with these teens. so pack a lunch on the age thing and being stopped by cops. go cops go!!!! keep them eyes open and stop whomever you want.

Stan: I agree, as usual. I am just a bit worried that she is making Jay squeamish and he is going to take it out on the police. He already has shown some ill will, in my opinion, toward the police. If he comes out and pulls an Obama and tells her to take control of her own life and destiny. In an honest way. THEN I will be glad she stirred the proverbial crap pot.

Now they are trying to get us to buy this "our police force will be smaller and more agile to fight crime". Less guys, but same people, same cars and equipment. What makes it more agile and effective?

Now they are getting it from the other end with people like the good Ms. Johnson, who no doubt will be announcing her law suit any time now.

Is it possible that our government encourages this lifestyle by giving away enough crumbs to disincentivize one from seeking a better life?

Enough crumbs to keep them permanently dependent upon the Democratic-Socialist Party, but not enough to climb the ladder to a better life?

"The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself."

-Ben Franlin

"Under a good government (which I have no doubt we shall establish) this Country certainly promises greater advantages, than almost any other, to persons of moderate property, who are determined to be sober, industrious, and virtuous members of Society."

-George Washington

"That some should be rich, shows that others may become rich, and hence, is just encouragement to industry and enterprise."

"Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration"

IT IS WHAT IT IS. No matter what anybody says,everyone is going to look at it how they want to,and I see it like this.....Yes Youngstown does have a dog leash law,and ok the boy did not have his dog on a leash. Hopefully he has learned a lesson,and next time will put his dog on a leash. But the fact still remains,people get dogs and they both get to a point with each other when the person does'nt want anyone to hurt his dog,and the dog does'nt want anyone to harm his owner! AND EVERYONE IN THIS WORLD KNOWS THAT MOST DOGS PROTECT THEIR OWNERS!!! So.... when a dog see's some guys with guns,or even without guns,that they don't know running up on their owner,what do you think is going to happen? And let me give you something else to think about.. A FEW MONTHS BACK YOUNGSTOWN POLICE WERE CHASING SOMEONE AND THEY ENDED UP RUNNING INTO SOMEONES HOME WHILE CHASEING THE KID,THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED THEIR (HAD) A DOG NAMED "DIVA" AND WHEN THE OFFICERS RAN INTO THESE PEOPLES HOME "DIVA" DID WHAT SHE SHOULD HAVE, TRIED TO PROTECT HER FAMILY,AND YOUNGSTOWNS FINEST,SHOT AND KILLED THE DOG.......WOULD HAVE "DIVA" LIVED IF SHE WAS ON A LEASH? SHE WAS INSIDE OF HER OWN HOME! WHEN DOES IT STOP? THEY MAY LOOK INTO IT, BUT I BET MAYOR WILLIAMS NEXT PAY CHECK,THEY WILL FIND A REASON TO SAY WHAT THEIR OFFICERS DID WAS RIGHT!!! AND YOU CAN SEND ME MINES TO... P.O.BOX 2313 YOUNGSTOWN,OH 44509

Sorry, you won't be getting "yourses" you shining example of Y-town. Maybe the dog in the house was handled poorly but we weren't there. Bottom line is there is a leash law PERIOD. This all could have been avoided along with the MANY dog bite incidents that happen in this city if people would respect other people and laws.

You won't see that though, you are in the "police are all liars and when they catch me doing wrong I'm gonna sue them" crowd. Good luck with that. No doubt if you are walking down the road minding your business and one of Y-town's finest pit bulls comes out unrestrained and bites you, you are going to sue the owner of the dog. Anything to get "yourses" right?

Wow....Guys and Gals here is the deal. Although the mother is obviosly under house arrest how the situation occured was not the best thought out process. Did it really take all of those officers to pull a gun out on the 12 year old? No. Should the dog have had a leash on it? Yes. Should the cops have followed the boy home and followed protocol to have some one put the dog up while they search? Yes. To many wrong choices meanwhile a boy has been traumatized. Despite where he lives and what his Moma rap sheet loks like he's still an innocent kid right? yes. Move on with some siginificant news. yes!

"Hughes said officers were in the Kenmore Avenue area investigating alleged drug sales by a teenage boy that had taken place earlier in the day." - When is there NOT an alleged drug sale by a teenage boy on Kenmore??? Were the cops right around the corner when this happened because they were on the scene fast! Unfortunately for this young boy, it probably isn't the last time he will have a gun pulled on him in his lifetime. Did this boy match the description of the "alleged teenage boy" that was selling drugs or was he in the wrong place at the wrong time?

It's beautiful how you folk have joined together as a community to endorse and promote police brutality, but let's face it: they don't really *need* your support. YPD is quite capable of coming up with their own half-baked justifications to promote violent behavior. steerlerman09 - The correct answer to the comment on description? They were looking for a black teenage boy. They found one. What more description do you need to justify stopping every black teenage-looking boy in the area?

ypd is always doing something and actin like they did nothing wrong, hughes , and jay need to find a job that they can actually perform to someones liking orther than their own. like mc donalds, or burger king , due to their lack of respect for the community and their jobs, i relocated and is never lookin back LAUGHING OUT LOUD AT ALL YALL!!! the kid is a kid , to many of the wrong people with a lil power!

Is there a chance that the cops are wrong here? Of course, but not likely. Is there a chance that the kid did something wrong? Maybe, but it doesn't seem like it from the article. Is there a chance that a "get-rich-quick" lawsuit is forthcoming by an electronically restrained, non-contributing member of society? You betcha..... I feel sorry for the kid and the dog. Neither stands a chance.

THIS LADY IS JUST GETO AND LOOKIN FOR AN EXCUSE TO TRY TO GET SOME QUICK CASH!! TOO BAD FOR HER SHE LIVES IN A BROKE @SS CITY ON A F%$KED UP SIDE OF TOWN!! AND GOT THE NERVE TO BE SPORTIN THE LOVELY ACCESSORY ON HER ANKLE!! SHE NEEDS TO GET HER KIDS OUT OF YTOWN IF SHES SO CONCERNED....SHE BETTER WORRY ABOUT MORE THAN COPS PULLIN OUT GUNS!!

betsyog, I'm pleasantly surprised you've taken your government cheese and traded it to purchase a new or used keyboard.

Now, let's talk about how to use that keyboard, okay?

Regarding positive, helpful communication on the Internet, which is primarily in the English language (and not in your native dialect of white Ebonics), you may want to invest in Strunk's book entitled The Elements of Style.

By reading this book, you stand to gain insight not only into why one shouldn't end every sentence with an exclamation point, but also why it is important to have a point when writing.

The same point you have failed to provide with your original post.

If you are here to troll, because you think it makes you some sort of internet hero and provides you a sense of accomplishment you will never get out of your dull, uninspired, unimaginative life ... well, this paper already has trolls, village idiots and yes-men, and most of them probably don't want you impeding upon their territory.

Seriously yix2k who really talks like that? Leave betsyog alone. Just because you can throw a sentence together using a few big words you think you are smart. You HAVE to be some ugly lonely guy...definitely white who NEVER gets women. Look how much time you spend here....pathetic! What kind of name is yix2k anyways? LOSER!!!

Seriously, PetiteNsweet, the newspaper probably has the capacity to check and see if multiple users are coming from the same ip address. Defend yourself under your own account. You're embarrassing the rest of the race.

Wake up you entitlement f*&^s. Take control of your children and your community and quit asking for a hand out!!! Get an education and conform to society and improve the community you live in instead of tearing it down. You ghetto blacks make me sick!

This is not NEWS, and this won't be the first time the boy is involved with the Police, here and anywhere, unless the mom changes her life and makes something of it, for her and her children (and Lucky). I usually don't agree with the YPD, but there protecting the neighborhood and if it comes to detaining a unleashed dog, then so be it, if the kid is going to be scared of the police, then hope he gets use to it, maybe he'll learn and stay out of trouble. The mom is nothing but a gold digger looking for the easy way out. Come on Vindy, get some real NEWS, and none of this garage reporting.

No yall dont need to be talking bout like that. Whether or not shes on house arrest dont matter. Its as simple as this.that wouldnt have been at them cops like that if they hadnt approached her son. They thought he was the boy they was looking for so sure they pulled a gun. Them task force guys get a case and then become RAMBO wanna bes. Thats all thts to it. And for someone to say she needs to not live in that neighborhood your wrong for that. You dont know wht tht ladys life is like. Some people dont got money to move to better areas. some people live paycheck to paycheck. Some peopls lifes are a lot harder than we can imagine. You guys complain about vindy.com look at you all. Dont got nothing else to do besides sit here and make fun of people. How would u all feel if that hapened to ur child. Just seeing a gun being pulled out is tramitizing for any young child. So unless any of you all know what kind of life this woman got or if u were there to see it u shouldnt make assumptions. IT HAPPENS SOME COPS ARE IGNORANT LIKE THAT LIKE I SAID THEM TASK FORCE THINK THEIR RAMBO OR DALLAS SWAT. Stop ridiculing a little boy who cant help the way his life is or where he is at. HE DIDNT ASK TO BE BROUGHT IN THE WORLD. AND NOT EVERYONE HAS MONEY TO MOVE . MAYBE THAT HOUSE IN THE GHETTO IS ALL SHE CAN AFFORD. SHE HAS A ROOF OVER HER CHILDRENS HEAD .

It might not surprise anyone, but that is not a complete list of her criminal, civil, or judgement entries in Mahoning Valley!! There is no access to city records from Municipal Court, and it seems that is where she was sentenced to a ankle bracelet!!

Clearly this is not an example of use of force, only a mother trying to show her children how to clearly not take responsibility for their own actions. I have dealt with kids in the past as young as 10 carrying around toy guns, trying to pass them off as real!!!

Now what does that say for society? It says that this kid, may or may not be involved. Who knows, he has a great example of a PARENT that seems to only care about getting out of her own punishment, and is using her son as the pawn against the City.

The City does place itself in bad situations, and yes the dog shot in its residence was a bad call and Hughes did a lot to make sure the public only heard their side. But these are two different situations, and how do we know if this kid wasn't out slinging dope with his friends?

How are we to know what this mother teaches her children? The police do not need permission to check this kid for weapons, the outstanding part of this is: Why put all the blame on the Police? Of course, parents aren't taking responsibility for their own actions or the actions of their offspring, so society has to deal with it now!!

I am surprised she didn't call Obama and get him in the mix!!! After seeing what goes on, it is no wonder society will keep getting worse, and until the City takes measures to have parents held responsible the people will do what they want!!

Yes the City loves to hide situations they do, I am not going to defend this City because it has placed itself in many situations. The police are not always wrong, and yet it's citizens aren't either!!! There are times that do require stepping up and taking blame, and apparently the mother with her ankle bling bling, doesn't want to do it!!

How do you protect your children by having them plastered on the paper? Nice example of Motherhood! The City doesn't create the criminal element, the person does it itself. The neighborhood didn't become that way on it's own, the people did it to it!!! When responsibility is shared by the people, and steps are in place by using morals, ethics, and education; the areas that the officers have to deal with will be drastically reduced!!!

Response to DJohnson, I will tell you the shows you watch on tv are exactly for it entertainment. Where does SWAT and drug units/gang units, or whomever was there, have to be blamed for creating the situation? Apparently, someone in that area complained about drug activity and they are the persons to be commended.

So the police created the situation themselves? Have you ever spent time listening to the creative and unique stories in courts? Here is one, have you ever taken the time to even get involved in your own neighborhood to stamp out criminal activity?

Here is a hint, the children of this City are out creating havoc and the juvenile division are swamped with the problems. Do you think the task force/drug officers wanted to be there and place themselves in harms way? I am sure that many of the officers wanted to go home to their own families, unharmed!!!

Whether shes on house arrest doesn't matter, huh? It matters if she cannot teach her own children the difference between right and wrong. It matters when she has been through the system, and is making sure that her children want to blame everyone else except themselves when they get involved in something they shouldn't!!

Like I said before, she shouldn't go around trying to blame everyone else except herself. Who didn't have a leash or even a collar on the dog? Have you ever driven up or down Kenmore Ave, and seen what the neighborhood produces in the middle of the street? Guess not, you wouldn't because the first thing anyone would do is call YPD!!!

When are the people creating the problems going to take responsibility for their own actions? That is why our society is the way it is, and yes I said Obama before!! Do I like Jay Williams' performance, no! Do I like Obama's performance, No!! Society is to blame for it's own actions, nobody tells anyone to commit a crime, it happens and then everyone else is to blame.

Blaming on poor upbringing, societies woes, and lack of outreach are not things to blame!! Anyone can become someone better, no matter what their own situation is. How about taking responsibility for their own actions, and then maybe someone will listen or even care, because I am tired of it!!!

I bet everytime a police car comes down the road in that neighborhood, toilets flush or people run!! Why, because if they weren't doing anything wrong they shouldn't fear a police presence in their neighborhood. Oh and a neighborhood actually only consists of a radius of 500 ft!!!

The problems that the city faces with drugs, robberies, rapes and killings starts with what is being taught and supported at home . I sum it up as the culture . Those who participate in the culture see no wrong in their actions . The productive members of society through their taxes subsidize this way of life . We dont need more social programs with handouts but we need more workfare .

djohnson:"Dont got nothing else to do besides sit here and make fun of people."Noone is making fun of anyone on the comments.

"How would u all feel if that hapened to ur child."This YOUNG adult (because that's what they want to be called now) is in a bad area, hanging with a bad crowd and him and his mother should take responsbility for there actions. Nothing more, nothing less. It's called hanging around with a bad crowd. Take that away and nothing happens.

"Just seeing a gun being pulled out is tramitizing for any young child."Why put yourself in that position? Go shoot hoops, stay home, go to the park, etc...The YPD had a reason to question the activities of him or else they wouldn't even bother wasting his and there time. Where is the FATHER in all this?

"So unless any of you all know what kind of life this woman got or if u were there to see it u shouldnt make assumptions".Once again, they are FACTS because everything is public records, not assumptions.

"HE DIDNT ASK TO BE BROUGHT IN THE WORLD."I won't even comment on that.

OH COME ON,YEAHH YEAH YEAH WHINE AND CRY LIKE YPD OWES YOU SOMETHING. GET A LIFE OH I FORGOT YOU ARE DOING SOME HOUSE ARREST I SEE. THE COUNTY MUST BE TO FULL. WITH PEOPLE LIKE YOU. YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW AND LADY I WOULD BE ASHAMED OF MYSELF GO GET A JOB AND

these cops did what every other cop in every other city would have done,they drew their guns to stop the boy from runnin.if they were conducting investigations into drug sales and they had survailance like they say then why did they have the wrong suspect,because every cops excuse to be ignorant is they fit the description.how do they ( y.p.d ) have time chase 12 year olds but can't find a clue to all the murders that go on around youngstown

you people silly yall know them cops pulled they guns everybody knows if you take off running what is the first thing the cops say and do.FREEZE AND POINT THEY GUNS AT YOU ,IF THEY DON'T PULL THEY GUNS THE AVERAGE PERSON IS GONNA RUN,THATS REAL TALK

AND JUS CAUSE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD MAY LOOK BETTER THAN OTHERS DON'T MEAN NOTHING IF YOU LIVE IN YOUNGSTOWN NO MATTER WHAT SIDE OF TOWN IT IS YOU LIVE IN THE GHETTO GAURENTEE SOMEBODY ON YOUR STREET IS RECIEVING SECTION EIGHT,GARY CRIM GOT HOUSES AND APARTMENTS EVERYWHERE.THIS WHOLE TOWN IS GHETTO

No, the average person is NOT going to run, when I got arrested (5 times) I didn't run, I was man enough to accept the fact what I did was wrong, and not only thought of myself but the people that LOVE me, what the consequences would've been if I ran.....so if you are scared, you run, instead of taking control of your life, and being a MAN, instead of the police running it for you....bottom line is GROW UP, and quit your complaining about the police and society and everything, look in the mirror and be a MAN....not no little baby that does nothing but bi@#4 about everything, stand up for yourself and be a productive member of society instead of whiner! Be Somebody!

"AND JUS CAUSE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD MAY LOOK BETTER THAN OTHERS DON'T MEAN NOTHING IF YOU LIVE IN YOUNGSTOWN NO MATTER WHAT SIDE OF TOWN IT IS YOU LIVE IN THE GHETTO"

What is truly astounding to me, in all honesty, is that after reading 70 or so posts on this subject, I realize that some members of society not only lack pre-school grammar, but also believe our language is written like that. It is truly scary to witness. You must realize that you are already excluding yourself from the majority of jobs in this country that pay a living wage and do require hard labor or nepotism to acquire. It is all too much for me to fathom.

And all you wanna be gangsters in Youngstown.....If you think it's so bad in Youngstown, and so rough and tough and the YPD and crime and ghetto is so horrible, I can tell you from experience, this is a cupcake area, you wouldn't last 1 night in Harlem,Chicago,Detroit,Philly,etc. If you think the streets are so rough here, go somewhere else were you think you can live 1 day in the streets. Youngstown is just a blip on the radar compared to the real world out there.....so next time you think your so bad, think again, because you would die anywhere else....take it from a x-con that been through it and realized that the life your leading is going to put you six feet under and noone will care.....not even your kids....Before it's to late, change yourself, instead of having babysitters (police,po's,etc) your whole life. Make something of it.

First of all this is that Little boys aunt!! Ignorant people keep your self centered comments to yourself!! He had a father, one that was there for him and his sister that you all say has the HOT pants on. Their FATHER is deceased!! That is where he IS!! He died, not killed!! My nephew is a good kid and he is in sports and a victim of circumstance!! We can choose our friends, WE CAN NOT CHoOSE OUR FAMILY!! What his mother has done, is of NO reflection on the children!! Where he lives is a reflection and the circumstances in his neighborhood IS a reflection on the city officials of YOUNGSTOWN!! Would he have been treated the same if he lived in a upscale suburban neighborhood!! I think NOT! The mother, nor what his sister was wearing in the picture, is not the issue. The issue is how he was mistreated and now tramatized. If it were your child would you feel the same all because of your living arrangements? Come on Youngstown, we need to STOP stereotyping/degrading and accusing people because of neighborhoods and color!

And to you who said where is his father or in this case "fathers?" Well, ignorant, that is why people if you don't know what you are talking about keep your mouth shut!! They both have the SAME father!! He died!! How many different fathers does your children have? Or do you even know? If you are going to post your comments about their personal life instead of the issue at hand, KNOW, not speculate, what you are talking about!! The mothers rap sheet is no ones business, unless she did something to you!! Her rap sheet is not the issue, nor should it even be relative to this incident. None of us were there so no one should say anything relating to what happened. He is a CHILD! Yes, children may do criminal things, but my nephew is NOT a criminal or a delinquent!! If you want to say ignorant things, it may have have been YOUR son they were looking for and MY nephew got stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time!! So to you, GOD don't like UGLY!!!